FCIK sounds alarm over freefall of J&K poultry industry

Srinagar, Apr 10: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has issued an urgent and emphatic call for immediate government intervention to rescue the poultry sector of Jammu and Kashmir, which is staring at an imminent collapse.

In a statement, FCIK warns that this is no longer just a sectorial issue — it is a looming economic catastrophe that demands to be treated as a statewide emergency. The continued neglect of this vital industry threatens to render tens of thousands of educated youth jobless, drive thousands of families into deep economic despair, and deal a critical blow to the region’s already fragile food security and rural economy.

A marathon meeting between the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) and the Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers Association (KVPFA) was held on Wednesday at FCIK headquarters, chaired by FCIK President Shahid Kamili. Advisory Committee members Shakeel Qalander, M.D. Qureshi, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir participated in the discussions. The KVPFA delegation, led by President Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, included senior office bearers and district representatives from across the Valley, underscoring the sector-wide concern over the poultry industry’s growing crisis.

The participants expressed grave concern over the sharp decline of the poultry industry, once a beacon of self-employment and entrepreneurship. Now on the brink of collapse due to policy failures, market imbalances, and infrastructural neglect, the crisis threatens the livelihoods of tens of thousands of educated youth who depend on it.

The President and members of KVPFA explained that local poultry farmers have faced ongoing financial losses for over eight years due to policymakers’ failure to provide sustainable market protection and adequate policy support, putting the industry at risk of a looming economic and social disaster.They explained that poultry farmers in J&K struggle to compete with their counterparts due to several structural disadvantages, including higher production costs, expensive construction, a lack of grandparent/parent stocks, non-functional hatcheries and feed mills, higher mortality rates from harsh climate conditions, and limited market access.

They stated that despite the presence of a dedicated poultry segment within the Animal Husbandry Department, the government has failed to establish essential facilities, forcing farmers to purchase one-day-old chicks at exorbitant rates, primarily from South Indian companies.They further explained that the removal of the Lakhanpur toll post and the abolition of the toll tax have been disastrous for local poultry farmers. Previously, taxing poultry imports not only generated revenue for the state but also served as a crucial economic safeguard, enabling local producers to compete with low-cost imports from other states.

“Since the abolition of toll tax, local production has plummeted from 85% to just 20% of region’s consumption, pushing the industry to the verge of extinction”, stated KVPFA members, adding that the government failed to provide alternative protective mechanisms to face the direct competition.

“Instead, the government has allowed the import of frozen, dressed chicken at extremely low prices for years, raising serious concerns about the quality of the meat”, warned the members, adding that the unchecked import of outdated, unhygienic, and frozen chicken from outside the UT poses a significant public health risk and threatens the local poultry economy, as this substandard meat undermines local sales and jeopardizes consumer safety.

Acknowledging the poultry industry’s concerns, FCIK President and Advisory Committee members assured urgent action with the government to press for constitution of an expert committee for a comprehensive assessment of the poultry value chain and a phased revival plan.

FCIK also emphasized the need for grassroots data to recommend a policy overhaul focused on sustainability and realistic incentives.

Additionally, FCIK has called for a ban on the import of low-quality frozen meat, which undermines local produce and poses a public health risk, urging the government to enforce strict inspections to overrule the possibility of such meat derived from dead and diseased chicken.

FCIK is also pushing for the reintroduction of Cess or Octroi on imports, similar to practices in other states, to ensure the sustainability of the local industry including poultry.